A Cal Fire helicopter is dropping water across the Eel River from the town of Redway. [Photo by Christine Eichen]

A fire is burning on the mountain across the South Fork of the Eel River from Redway in Southern Humboldt. Readers report that they first saw smoke before 11:30 a.m.

A Cal Fire helicopter is now on scene and dropping water on the blaze.

UPDATE 12:00 p.m.: Tanker 96 is headed to the fire. Flight Radar shows it just north of Redway.

UPDATE 12:18 p.m.: Cal Fire Battalion Chief Paul Savonna said at 12:10 p.m., “The Red Fire is currently a 1/4 acre in size. It is difficult to access…Multiple agencies are responding…But no one has gotten there yet…No one knows how it really started.”

He did point out that there have been multiple escapes from debris burns and he asked everyone to be careful. “We don’t currently have Red Flag warnings here,” he said. ‘But today is a no burn day. Tomorrow is a no burn day. Please verify status before starting to burn!”

He noted, “The conditions are favorable for quick fire spread. We do have five engines and some hand crews out of County…We are being augmented with local fire resources.”

He added, “We are going to provide the best level of service as always, but please be careful.”

UPDATE 12:28 p.m.: More photos from reader Kory Beach:

Cal Fire helicopter dipping for water from the extremely low for November Eel River. [Photo from Kory Beach]